THEAlgeria aims to appear in a modern way - more structured and professional - in the international extra virgin olive oil market. The North African country, which in this campaign it will produce almost 100 thousand tons of oil, in line with the previous five years, has in fact concluded a series of initiatives aimed at guaranteeing training, means and vision to take on a leading role in the future global scenario of the sector. In short, a change of pace compared to one current situation that sees Algerian olive oil sold mainly in bulk to international buyers, who rename it and then sell it to other markets.
In addition to the increase in production with the plan to establish new olive groves (which involves the planting of 400 thousand hectares more within this year, compared to 500 thousand in 2021), a development plan called “PASA Programme” which made it possible to provide small farmers and oil mills withaccess to the latest knowledge and best practices for the cultivation and pressing of olives in the last five years. Financed by French and German bodies, the operational program also saw the establishment of an analysis laboratory, the publication of research on indigenous Algerian olive varieties and the predisposition of market research for brand development.
Particularly important is the laboratory that allows producers to have a reliable structure in Algeria for the analysis of olive oil, without the need to send samples abroad, for example to France.
A network of six pilot demonstration sites has also been established: these are olive groves allow all interested parties to observe good agricultural practices directly in the field, such as pruning techniques or irrigation. At the same time educational sites make available qualified experts to guide producers step by step interested in adopting a new approach to olive growing and olive pressing, including aspects related to sustainability and the environment.
The program focused on Béjaïa, Bouïra and Tizi Ouzou, the three provinces of the Soummam valley, where the first evidence of olive growing dates back more than two millennia. Over 3 thousand people were involved in the various meetings, which allowed us to encourage aggregation and birth of some cooperatives. According to forecasts, half of the olive producers present in the country today will take advantage of the new tools provided and adopt better practices.
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